Fourth Triskele [Accidental Video -> Text]

[childofthewickedday]

[The bracelet begins recording small bare feet hurriedly pacing the halls of the house where the king of Camelot (not you, Uther) and his fellow Albionites reside. The feet hurry first to the bed of Morgana, and the boy peers over it as he has made a habit of doing since the lady has departed from the house. Finding it empty he hurries next to the door of the knight Lancelot and raises his hand to knock, but after a moment hesitates and instead bends down to try and see if there is light at the crack below the door or some semblance of the movement of feet. He cannot tell.  

Lastly he finds himself before the door to Arthur and Merlin's room and for a long moment he stares at it, frowning, but alas he does not even kneel to check for the light or the movement of feet. The king of Camelot would not have time for such things.

Quietly he paces away and goes to sit outside on the step. Only then can it be seen that he holds a crude toy bird in each hand, messily stitched together by himself as his people had taught him. 

Not knowing that he's been recorded, he decides to send a text]

[Text]

Does anyone wish to play? 

Comments

[verybigpheasants]

[ L- laughing. Oh gods, this kid is golden. ]

I think you're right, there. Might even have to see just how many of us he can best at once.

[childofthewickedday]

[Mordred smiles]

If you come, you may first test yourself against us. I shall get Lancelot.

[verybigpheasants]

A challenge I'm more than willing to accept. Consider it done.

[childofthewickedday]

I will go tell him.

[And he runs off in search of Lancelot.]

[sworntovalor]

[The knight is easily found in the bathroom with the door open - hey he's just washing his hands and face ok - having just returned from teaching at the Citadel.]

[childofthewickedday]

[Mordred scurries from room to room and it's a matter of moments before he's got his hands about Lancelot's wrist, tugging at it]

Lancelot you shall be on my team.

[sworntovalor]

[Although he's taken by surprise, Lancelot doesn't resist the boy, instead allowing him to tug him along.]

On your team in what?

[childofthewickedday]

[He grins up at him, hood falling back]

We shall challenge Sir Gwaine at the game of tugging rope.

[sworntovalor]

[Oh. Wow he hasn't done that since -- since he was a boy. He leans down to Mordred's level.]

You know, tugging rope can teach us a very valuable lesson.

[childofthewickedday]

[Blue eyes turn curious]

What lesson?

[sworntovalor]

When things look their most hopeless, when victory seems so far it simply cannot be achieved - you can turn things around with one simple action. In this case, letting go.

[Catch his drift kiddo?]

[childofthewickedday]

[For a moment Mordred looks perplexed. But letting go...would that not mean admitting defeat? He looks back up to Lancelot.]

[sworntovalor]

[Depends on what you consider defeat, young grasshopper. He smiles.]

Have you ever seen what happens when a side lets go during this game?

[childofthewickedday]

[He shakes his head]

[sworntovalor]

Imagine it - a person pulling back with all of his might, when suddenly, the power that resisted him simply disappears.

[childofthewickedday]

[It takes just another moment before silent laughter plays across Mordred's lips, small hands coming up to cover his mouth. He gets it now.]

[sworntovalor]

[That's his smart boy - he grins as he straightens back up and takes Mordred's hand in his again.]

Lead the way.

[childofthewickedday]

[And still smiling Mordred pulls Lancelot along to where they will wait for Gwaine]

[verybigpheasants]

[ Gwaine is running a few minutes late himself. As it happens, one does better for suggesting rope-tugging when they've... a rope to tug with. So he had to.

Well, obtain one. Just in case.

Still, turn up he does, a good sturdy rope looped over one shoulder and already grinning. Default mode. ]

Gentlemen!

[sworntovalor]

[Lancelot returns that grin, perfectly innocently.]

Sir Gwaine.

[He inclines his head politely, as if they're not gathered here to play a game.]

[childofthewickedday]

[Mordred leans into Lancelot a little, for he knows this knight better, but his eyes stay fixed on Gwaine and his mouth remains quirked by a playful expression]

Are you ready, Sir Gwaine?

[verybigpheasants]

Ah, don't be so formal. I'm not about to. [ Shaking the rope out as he speaks, with a gesture indicating that they're free to have their pick of ends once he's unknotted the middle. How it managed in such short time he'll never know. ] You know, my sister used to challenge me and then drag me off to play with a greased rope. Couldn't hold on to it for my life. Heinous old cow. Took me years to catch on.

[ Facts that aren't at all kind of pathetic. ]

[sworntovalor]

You've a sister, Gwaine? [He knows so little of his fellow knight, it's positively shameful.] You should not speak of ladies in this manner.

[Especially not in front of the kid, he's teaching him manners and the knight's code okok.]

[childofthewickedday]

[Mordred watches Gwaine intently]

You can play the game of tugging with ladies? Is that part of the code?

[verybigpheasants]

Just the one, yes. [ And he so very narrowly avoids continuing on to say "and it's not like she's a lady, don't worry." The things that he sacrifices for children, honestly. Mordred poses a very good question, though. Gwaine never thought about it in terms of the code. ] I'll admit I haven't tried since before I got knighted. Always imagined a game was a game, though, eh?